My interest in robotics are mainly triggered by the release of Lego MindStorms in ´98. That made a childhood dream come true; I had no programming or mechanical experience at all, but this was an good aproach to robotics because it´s easy to rebuild when needed. I use the official Lego MindStorms Forums alot and are one of the hosts there. On the official Lego MindStorms site my inventions can be found if you search for ROBOSWIFFER 1,5 or MAZE ROVER CONTEST, then my 2 galleries are open. I´m working on a website of my own for displaying my inventions more detailed and giving some tips, but it´s a slow process due to lack of time.

Recent blog entries by Revi

Today I added some sensors to the chassish, which I from
now on will refer to as AR(Autonomous Rover).
The rover is designed for traveling on a white surface. It
now features 2 RCX´s(X1 & X2), a double bumper(1), edge
detection(2), line following sensors(3) and ascent(30
degrees) bumper(4).
I will program and test it carefully and when everything
works as planned, I´ll add a grabber arm somewhere in the
front. 4 outputs are saved for that.
It uses skid stearing.

1: The ascent bumper are located at the back, like a
tail,
and makes contact when the robot start to drive up an
ascent 30-31 degrees or higher; the robot will back up. The
raw chassis have been driving without problems at a 40
degree ascent, but just to make as "bulletproof" as
posible, it now only takes a max of 30degrees.

2: The edge detection will be programmed to see when ít
goes over an edge. The 2 lightsensors are suported by lamps
for making the readings as equal as posible.
The edge detection shares inputs with 2 of the line
following sensors; when following a line in M006, you don´t
come near the edges.

3: It´s a traditional double bumper; determines wich
side
of the front that bumps into something.

4: 3 light sensors should secure a steady(kindof)
travel
along the line. The left & right ones are just in front
of
the RCX´s, the 3rd are placed under the RCX´s and uses a
lamp.

X1:
The left bumper, line sensor and edge detector are on port
1.
The ascent bumper and the middle line sensor are on port 2.
The right bumper, line sensor and edge detector are on port
3.

X2:
The left rotation sensor are on port 1.
the right rotation sensor are on port 3.
The left motor are on port A.
The right motor are on port b which also includes the 3
lamps.

Today I´finished the chassis for a multi purpose robot.
It´s a 6 wheel drive with a lot of torque, taking a 40
degree ascent without problem. I tried to make drive on a
45 degree ascent, but it tipped over. Next step will be
making a bumper and a grabber. The chassis can hold 2
RCX´s, but for its first purpose I´ll only use 1. It´s
first task is to serve as a solution to M006 on the
official Lego MindStorms site. I´ve completed it before,
but think I can do it better, so I´m giving it another try.
My earlier robot can be seen here:
http://www.robotcafe.com/gallery/images/18.jpg It worked
pretty good, but I wasn´t satisfied with the programming
part, it ran on a timer sequence. This time, by using
rotation sensors, I´ll go for a more "bulletproof"
programming solution. I plan to have the bumper and grabber
parts build in a couple of weeks. When I´m done with M006,
rebuild the add-ons to be for more all-round purposes. I´ll
update as it progresses.